In another place and time, not to mention another economic reality, the Yankees would’ve reached higher than Chris Carter for right-hander power. The meter would’ve dropped at Edwin Encarnacion, no matter how big a check the Steinbrenner family would’ve had to write for a slugger with that kind of Q-rating. But not in 2017.

Instead, the Bombers moved cautiously – and inexpensively – to sign Carter, who despite tying for the National League’s home run crown last year, couldn’t find work this winter. The Yankees locked him up for one year at $3 million, the ultimate hedge for an organization that’s avoiding risks before 2018.

Yes, Carter has that HR crown on his resume; his power is undeniable. But he was still job-seeking only days before spring training because of his limited skill-set. Carter hits the ball a long way – but that’s all he does, and that’s only when he connects.

Carter’s 41 homers were offset by his major league-leading 206 strikeouts, along with a .222 average. The Brewers non-tendered Carter so they wouldn’t be on the hook for the approximately $8 million they would’ve owed him in arbitration. Carter tested free agency with hopes of a multi-year deal, but interest was tepid at best. He was actually considering playing in Japan until the Yankees pounced.

Where does Carter fit? It depends on Greg Bird’s progress from a serious shoulder injury that wiped out his 2016 season. The 24-year-old Bird is at the front of the line at first base and will be given every chance to inherit Mark Teixeira’s job.

But there’s no guarantee Bird is healthy or mature enough for the everyday responsibility. Platooning with Bird against left-handed pitching is Carter’s best shot at sticking with the Yankees. Option No. 2 is replacing Matt Holliday as the designated hitter.

Carter, 30, is seven years younger than Holliday, which the Bombers look favorably on. But it’s also worth noting that Carter’s .218 career average is 85 points lower than Holliday’s, another indicator of the all-or-nothing philosophy that’s hindered Carter throughout his seven-year career.

Either way, the Yankees are hardly out on a limb. If Bird proves to be capable of handling both lefties and righties, Carter can be traded. And if he can’t cope with the stresses of the big market, even as a backup or part-time player, the Yankees won’t think twice about an outright release.

That’s what makes Carter’s signing so hard to contest. He’s cheap and motivated to restore his market value. This just might work out. Or not. We’ll see.

MLB looks to eliminate intentional walks

Give credit to commissioner Rob Manfred, who declared war on baseball’s slow-motion pace last year. He vowed to find ways to make the game livelier and more appealing to younger fans; it appears he was serious.

So says ESPN, which reported Tuesday that Manfred wants to do away with pitching four balls for intentional walks. It’s not a bad place to start trimming the fat, even though those four lobbed pitches, which take only one minute to complete, occurred just once every 2.6 games in 2016.

What’s more important is Manfred’s willingness to do away with a time-honored tradition. Intentional walks are as obsolete as chewing tobacco, but so far no one’s thought about phasing them out. At least not until now. Good for Manfred.

Let’s see if his appetite has been sufficiently whetted for more radical cutbacks, like limiting trips to the mound and controlling the number of pitching changes in the course of an inning.

The effort to make baseball a snappier pastime is a process; it will meet with resistance. But Manfred has so far been unafraid to take on issues Bud Selig avoided for too long. The new commissioner is carving out his own identity and legacy as an influencer. Who knows, Manfred might be just be a revolutionary commissioner instead of just an evolutionary one.

Now, if only he would give Hall of Fame balloters some guidance on the PED era, that might just stop the world. We’re waiting.

Mark Teixeira joins ESPN broadcast team

Well, that didn’t take long. While most professional athletes take years to find a second chapter in their lives after retirement, Teixeira is on to bigger and better things just months after ending his career with the Yankees.

Starting in spring training, Teixeira will be working in the studio at ESPN, as well as ESPN Radio. His agreement calls for about 60 appearances in 2017. Obviously the network appreciates what made Teixeira marketable in his playing days: he’s smart, funny and, given how hard he worked in pinstripes, will undoubtedly be prepared in front of the camera.

Teixeira made few if any enemies during his 14-year-career, always careful to avoid controversy in his remarks. It’ll be interesting to see whether there’s another side to Teixeira’s personality now that no longer needs to edit himself.

While Teixeira doesn’t necessarily have to be critical of other players to succeed as an analyst, he will have to critique them honestly. A brave new world awaits.